Discovering Labor Day Together - Honoring Hard Work and Fun!

smccue — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 14:15:24 +0000

smccue Mon, 07/31/2023 - 10:15

As Labor Day approaches, it's the perfect time to teach our little ones about the significance of this special day. Labor Day isn't just about an extra day off, a BBQ with friends and family, or the end of summer; it's an opportunity to celebrate the hard work and contributions of workers across our great nation. So, let's embark on a fun and educational journey with our children to explore the true meaning of Labor Day and how to teach them the importance of the day in a way they will understand.

The History Behind Labor Day: First things first, let's delve into the history of Labor Day. This holiday originated in the late 19th century to honor the labor movement and the contributions of workers to our society, later becoming an official federal holiday in 1894. Now, we celebrate it on the first Monday of September each year. By sharing this historical context with our little ones, we help them understand the reasons behind the day's existence and the importance of recognizing the hard work of others.
The Celebration of Workers: Labor Day is a big 'thank-you' to all the people who work tirelessly to make our lives better. Just like superheroes, workers include military, teachers, doctors, police officers, farmers, firefighters, construction workers, and so many others. It's the perfect time to talk to your little one about the different jobs people have and how each one plays a crucial role in building a thriving and caring community. You can even encourage your child to think about the jobs they might like to do when they grow up!
Fun Ways to Celebrate Labor Day: Teaching kids about the significance of Labor Day doesn't have to be all serious. We can infuse the day with fun-filled activities to make it even more memorable! How about organizing a "Career Dress-Up Party"? Let your little ones dress up as their dream job for the day, be it an astronaut, chef, or artist. We can also engage in pretend play activities where we mimic different professions, sparking their imagination and curiosity.
Acts of Kindness: Labor Day is not just about celebrating the efforts of workers; it's also an opportunity to teach our children about gratitude and kindness. We can engage in small acts of kindness, like preparing a thoughtful thank-you card for the people who work hard to make our lives better. Whether it's a note for their doctor or a kind message to the local librarian, these gestures will teach our kids the value of appreciating others' efforts.
Make a Labor Day Craft: Arts and crafts are an excellent way to engage children and reinforce the meaning of Labor Day. You can create a "Gratitude Tree" together, using construction paper leaves with the names of different jobs written on them. Stick these leaves to a branch, and each day leading up to Labor Day, discuss one profession and what they do to help the community.

As parents and caregivers, we play a vital role in teaching our children about the significance of Labor Day. By exploring the history, celebrating workers, engaging in fun activities, and practicing acts of kindness, we instill valuable lessons about hard work, gratitude, and the importance of supporting one another. So, let's make this Labor Day an unforgettable one as we nurture our children's understanding of the world around them, one kind lesson at a time!

Sharing your Love with your Child: Happy Valentine’s Day all Year Long

lba-admin — Thu, 25 Jan 2018 16:31:34 +0000

Sharing your Love with your Child: Happy Valentine’s Day all Year Long

lba-admin Thu, 01/25/2018 - 11:31

Between work and chores, it’s easy for parents to forget to show real love to their children. Lightbridge Academy President and COO Gigi Schweikert offers tips to bring that love back into the spotlight.

There’ll be plenty of red construction paper hearts, pink cupcakes and special dinners on February 14^th. Valentine’s Day is supposed to be all about love. But somewhere between the giant, silver foil candies and the heart-shaped sugar cookies, love got squeezed out. As parents, we often fall into the “give them all we can ” trap, desperate to provide the best “stuff” possible for our children. With busy schedules, we sometimes forget to show real love to our children and just need a little reminder. Valentine's Day is a good place to start.

Cherished childhood memories are not made of expensive gifts or fancy parties, but of simple acts of hugs, conversations, unhurried time spent together and traditions repeated and passed down through generations. Here are a few simple ways to show your child your love throughout the year:

Say, “I love you.”

We’re so busy showing our children that we love them by making money to provide for them, taking them places and giving them things that we sometimes just forget to say, “I love you.” Children often feel that they are only loved when they are good or when we are praising them. Tell your child you love them everyday.

“Let go” of your guilt.

Being a parent is overwhelming at times. We often question whether we are doing what is right and giving our children the love, attention and discipline they need to be successful in school and life. There’s no right way to be a good parent. Allow for your own mistakes and “let go” of the guilt.

Be with your Child.

Often times we are so busy managing our homes, running errands and taking our children to activities that it’s hard to know how much time we really spend with our children. Are we just rushing from place to place and chore to chore? Even though it’s difficult, turn off the radio, put down the cell phone and be with your child—not just around them.

Dream with your Child.

Do you remember as a child lying on your back and watching the sky, naming the shapes of clouds floating by, thinking about life and daydreaming? Simple thoughts and conversations can spark the imagination, plant a seed of curiosity or begin a dream. Every job well done, every great act of generosity began with a thought or a dream. Hang out and dream with your child.

Celebrate your child’s best efforts and successes.

When our children were infants, they would look up searching for our smiles when they pulled up, made a toy squeak or clapped their hands. Their every move was a triumph. With older children, we can still praise good grades, nice manners, and more importantly, controlling anger, helping a friend and playing soccer even though we all know our kid’s not the best one on the team.

Watch your child sleep.

Before you go to bed each night, spend a few minutes watching your sleeping child. Breathe in the calmness and know it’s all worth it. Sometimes we long for “sleep-in mornings,” spontaneous weekend trips, career opportunities that were lost and priorities that were changed. And just because the world’s most important job doesn’t come with a paycheck, doesn’t mean it doesn’t come with rewards: wet, slurpy kisses; little, gooey handprints and, all encompassing, “I’ll do anything for this kid,” love.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Gigi Schweikert is the president and COO of Lightbridge Academy and an expert in the field of early childhood education. She has managed corporate childcare centers and their educational programs for more than 30 years. Schweikert was the host of Today’s Family and is a bestselling author of eighteen books. Follow 1851 Franchise as she shares her tips on parenting and childcare.

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Discovering Labor Day Together - Honoring Hard Work and Fun!

Sharing your Love with your Child: Happy Valentine’s Day all Year Long